Chapter 1: The White room

Rosario stumbled forward as with a blinding flash of light his surroundings changed. He was originally walking back to his studio apartment in the small town of Catskill, NY. Now, as he righted himself, he found that he was in a 10'x15' all white room. There was no door in or out and all that sat in the room was a white leather chair behind a glass desk. There was a second chair that looked to be very uncomfortable as it resembled the look of a metal folding chair.

After walking to each of the walls and taking a closer look and running his hands along them Rosario couldn't find any type of seam or doorway. With this he walked back over to the desk and chairs. Deciding to sit he chose to go behind the desk and slunk down into the leather chair. Kicking his feet up on the desk and placing his arms behind his head he leaned back in the chair closing his eyes and relaxing.

He figured if he couldn't find a way out then he was sure soon enough he would find out why he was in this room. He might be dreaming or dead, he doesn't know, but either way he is going to enjoy the relaxation of the quiet atmosphere in the small room.

About a half hour went by with Rosario falling into a light sleep when he was awoken by someone speaking.

"I apologize candidate as you are the last of the-… what are you doing in my chair?"

Rosario woke up but didn't move, he lazily opened his eyes and studied the newcomer to the room. Before him stood what he could only refer to as a cyborg. The being in front of him has white plastic looking skin but other than that looked completely human. They were wearing a purple t-shirt with a lab coat over skinny jeans and hiking boots. The figure shifted her posture crossing their arms and… were they glaring at him?

The cyborgs voice was definitely feminine and absolutely laced with some annoyance. However, as Rosario was still processing that there seemed to be a female cyborg in front of him, he again did not answer the question. Instead, as he stared openly at his guest, he noticed she had long flowing blonde hair and a pair of violet eyes.

What really caught his attention was that she had painted designs on the parts of her wrist that were showing. The tattoo looking designs crawled up her arm under the lab coat that was taught because she had crossed her arms over her chest. Making eye contact with the cyborg and seeing her annoyance and frustration he smiled and taking his feet from the desk sat up straight in the leather chair.

"I asked why you are sitting in my chair?"

"I apologize for staring, it's just that I have never seen a cyborg before. You are a cyborg, right? Of course, you must be, or something related to, granted earth's legends might have some naming differences when it comes to species. My name is Rosario, I don't suppose you would like to have a seat and let me know why I am in this…cell?"

Rosario gestured to the metal seat across from him at the desk for her to sit in.

"That's your chair not mine, YOU are sitting in MY chair." She countered.

*Sigh* Exhaling an exasperated breath, Rosario stood up and leaned over the desk towards the cyborg girl. "You know its rude to not introduce yourself after someone has introduced themselves? Also, you sound like a child whining to their mother that they didn't get their way. It was nice and peacefully quiet before you showed up here."

Huffing the girl dropped her arms and glared at him. "My name is Rena (R-eh-nuh) I am assigned as your guide until the initiation."

Smiling, Rosario jumped up onto the desk to sit, and swung his legs to face her. Leaning back, he grabbed the arm of the leather chair and wheeled it around the desk letting it go rolling towards the girl in front of him.

"Good, now that we got that out of the way, why don't you have a seat, and you can try your whole spiel again?"

With a very unnecessary eye roll, in Rosario's opinion, the girl caught the chair and faced it towards him. Taking a seat, she fixed her lab coat to not sit on it and crossed her legs. Once situated, she brought her attention back to Rosario. To her obvious consternation, because Rosario was sitting on the desk, he was higher than her, making it so she had to look up at him.

Seeing her immediately frown when she made eye contact, Rosario couldn't help but let a small smirk play out on his lips. He watched in amusement as she reached under the chair and used a lever to raise the chair as high as it would go. Feeling that the chair was as high as it could go but wanting to be sure Rena leaned forward between her legs and under the seat to look at the leaver in case it was stuck.

Rosario had her so annoyed and feeling out of place she forgot that she was supposed to be putting on a sense of superiority in front of him. Once Rosario noticed she couldn't go any higher and that she was trying to look under her seat to check if she could go higher he couldn't help but tease her a little.

"Comfortable?"

Glad that her race couldn't blush she sat back upright clearing her throat and looking as dignified as possible while doing it.

"Right, as I was saying when you so rudely interrupted me, you are just one of ten candidates that I am guiding and mentoring prior to the initiation."

"I would apologize for being a little late, as you are the last candidate I have to get started with the process, but for you I will not."

Rosario couldn't help but smile. "I accept your apology for being late."

Scrunching her nose Rena's fists balled as she retorted. "I said I am not apolo… oh forget it I am not going to go back and forth with you."

Rosario continued smirking.

"I am here because your planet, along with many others has been chosen due to the overpopulation and imminent destruction of your solar system. All of the humans from earth have been brought to these initialization areas to be prepared for your entry into your new home. Unfortunately, your bodies and minds are not near strong enough to survive in any galaxy other than the miniature one you are from. Due to this, humans and other species from mini galaxies need to be placed in barren galaxies that are small in size where they can slowly adapt to the pressures and can be initiated into the collective.

Galaxies range from miniature, like your Earth's Galaxy, to Colossal. Each size of galaxy has an increase in the gravitational pull and the radiation from the stars in the systems. As you are from the smallest sized galaxy you will be placed in a galaxy that is one size larger than the one you are used to. Gravity will be greater, and instead of one habitable planet there will be two planets that can sustain life. Each planet in a small solar system will make your planets look small in comparison."

"What if I don't want to be in this so called collective?"